My first LONE5: which is the best FF program?
 

Folks,

I have just booked my first LONE5 rtw ticket on Qantas. The itinerary is as follows:

Date Route Flight Nbr
26/01/05 SYD-JFK QF107
29/01/05 LGA-DFW AA738
29/01/05 LGA-MEX AA481
04/02/05 CUN-MIA AA2192
04/02/05 MIA-GIG AA919
26/02/05 SSA-SCL LA761
26/02/05 SCL-EZE LA481
11/03/05 EZE-LIM LP514
18/03/05 LIM-MAD IB6650
26/03/05 BCN-AMS IB4248
11/04/05 LGW-PRG BA855
18/04/05 PRG-LHR BA855
19/04/05 LHR-NRT BA7
24/04/05 NRT-HKG CX501
24/04/05 HKG-BKK CX701
27/04/05 BKK-BOM CX751
04/05/05 BOM-SYD QF124

I believe the class for all these flights is 'L'.

I would appreciate any advice you may have on what is the best FF program for me to credit my miles to for this trip.

I am currently a QF FF member, with about 25000 miles, but given the recent changes with the QF program, I am thinking about crediting the points to another program. I am considering AA, as I would like to achieve a higher status ASAP (so I can get lounge access) - and believe this is possible through AA's 'challenge' programs, and/or also possible through a status match program AA has with my employer.

I am also open to other One World programs - my selection criteria is really based on achieving status quickly, and having a low redemption rate for Aus-Asia travel.

Incidentally I am a gold member on SQ with around 100000 miles (but I gather this won't make much of a difference.) I also have around 60000 points on my Amex, which I can transfer to QF if I want (or SQ at half rate).

Please be gentle if I have broken any of your forum posting rules!

Thanks in advance,
JJ :)

Edit: Fixed Routing

I assume you have no status with QF now. Your LONE5 will unlikely get enough SC's to get QF gold. There is a web site referenced further down on this forum where you can put in the route and it will calculate the QF SC's
How many SC's will you have at the start of your trip ? Remember the SC's go to zero at the anniversary of you joining the QFF.

Are you doing the trip before or after 25 May 2005 ?(when all those QFF changes will apply)

Plenty of posts on AA vs QF FF program on the QF forum. Search for AA on QF Forum Dave Noble is particularly knowledgeable on the AA program and the advantage's of AA over QF and vis versa

If you get a status match what AA status would you be ? Then do the Plat challenge. (Search on the AA forum)

AA has much lower redemption compared to QF (especially after 25 May 2005)

Ssa-eze
 

Is SSA-EZE on LA metal or a code share ?
What month or day of the week have you booked for ?

duplicate post

Let it be known that on AA's programme, you'll get in L class:

AA & LA - 100% miles
BA-25% miles
IB-30% miles
QF-50% miles (so book SYD-NYC on AA codeshare flight number!)
CX-0 mile

Think carefully. QF seems to be better at this point. So just redeem your awards before the new changes take effect.

It's a typo. It should read SCL-EZE.

If you decide to credit your miles to AA's FFP you could do LIM-MAD via MIA with AA, and get 100% miles, instead of 30%.

To get Status you need maximise QF SC's (or the equivalent with AA). As you seem to have booked the ticket this may be too late.

Status Chaser Calculator

Oneworld Explorer Itinerary Validator

One big advantage of the QFF to Oz residents is the availability to put points from Oz issued credit card to the QFF.

If your future travels are in Australia or from Australia QF is likely to best program, even if with the 2005 changes, especially if you put credit card points to QFF